JB/109/287/001

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1829. Sept. 15.
Collectanea for Procedure Code and Judiciary

Morn. Herald, Sept. 15, 1829.
Extract.
"

Chancery Reforms
Visit of the Solicitor General to the Fleet Prison

On Friday and Saturday the Solicitor General, Sir
E.B. Sugden visited that mansion of misery, the Fleet
prison, and called before him the various persons who are
immured within its cells for contempts of the Courts of
Chancery. The feeling among those miserable beings, that
so influential a personage as the Solicitor General should
visit them, and enquire, from their own lips, into their
several cares, was one of a hope and of joy, to which many
of them had been long unaccustomed. Every Chancery
prisoner in the place was summoned, save one, and received
from the Solicitor General some of them advice, others advice
and pecuniary assistance, and others were promised that
they should be liberated during the ensuing term. Among
those who presented themselves, there were some who must
have made a deep impression on the feelings of Sir Edward.
Two miserable beings, one of whom is wholly, and the other
partially insane, and who are severally nicknamed in the
prison the "Lord Chancellor" and the "Vice Chancellor", were
both questioned by the Solicitor General. The "Lord Chancellor"
whose name is Robert Arthur, when asked why he was imprisoned,
replied with the vacant stare of insanity and starvation
– folding his arms like a stage hero – "Here? Why
they put me here to take care of me. I must not go ou, my
masters want me". What the half-witted and three parts
starved "Vice Chancellor", whose name is Shaife, replied we know
not. A poor old man of the name of Morgan, upwards of
seventy years of age, who had been a labourer in Wales, earning
about seven shillings a week, was called before Sir Edward,
and when asked why he was confined, replied "I don't
know what they put me here fore; they gave me a bit of paper
ten years before they sent me to prison, and then they wanted
me to swear a man were my uncle who wasn't." The Solicitor
General said that could not be. The poor old man
persisted it was so; and it was explained to Sir Edward
by a gentleman, who had possession of the papers relative
to the case, that it was literally true. The plaintiffs solicitor
had entered an appearance for him, and drawn up an answer
which Morgan would not sign. This miserable victim
to contempt of Chancery had been torn from his wife,

Identifier: | JB/109/287/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 109.
Date_1	1829-09-15	Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	109	Main Headings	Procedure Code
Folio number	287	Info in main headings field	Collectanea for Procedure Code and Judiciary
Image	001	Titles	Morn. Herald, Sept. 15 1829 / Extract / Chancery Reforms
Category	Collectanea	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering
Penner		Watermarks	B&M 1828
Marginals		Paper Producer	Arthur Moore; Richard Doane
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year	1828
Notes public		ID Number	35942
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